The Chronicle 2022

FLY TYING Mr Edgar and Mr Kotze ensured that there were plenty of fly tying sessions on Friday nights where the boys were taught in depth fly-tying skills. The boys were shown how to tie different streamers before getting a chance to tie one themselves, they were also taught how to tie competition nymphs.

• Sean Robertson • Jack Walters • Henry Walters

KZN B (First Nationals) KZN A (Second Nationals) KZN A (Second Nationals)

These boys represented KwaZulu-Natal at the national championships at the beginning of October and obtained the following results: Sean Robertson (36th) with nine fish, Jack Walters (23rd) with 27 fish, and Henry Walters (26th) with 13 fish. The event was hosted on the Vaal River and the boys did very well considering that it wasn’t the type of fishing they were accustomed to. SASSAC Following a sixth place in the 2021 Nationals on the Cape streams, Jack Walters was invited to attend the South African trials where he was then selected for the junior team scheduled to tour the Czech Republic. The tour took place in June with Jack placing 26th overall with the team ending in fourth place. Chairman, Jack Walters, writes: It has been a pleasure to be a part of such a successful and active Michaelhouse club over the past year. I have thoroughly enjoyed the frequent excursions and have learnt and grown as a fisherman since I signed up in E Block. I am looking forward to what next year brings, I only hope that 2023 will be as successful as this one. Many thanks to Mr Kotze for all the time and effort that he has put into this club, he has inspired and taught a great number of Michaelhouse fishermen at the expense of his free time. Another highlight was regular participation by a small group of passionate riders in Enduro events at Karkloof, Giba Gorge and Cascades. Enduro requires riders to make their way under their own steam to the top of a hill untimed and then to race several stages downhill. The high point was the participation of Gregor, Ian, Rhys, Matthew, Ashton and Ramon in two of the three days in the South African Enduro Championships held at Karkloof in July. As per usual some riders participated in several marathon races at venues such as Karkloof, Kamberg and Eston. We also arranged a Sunday morning ride at the beginning of the year to attempt the trails at Piggly Wiggly. Experimentally, we entered a team in the WW XTRI off-road triathlon held at Karkloof in October. Leruo Sento (swim), Matthew Carolan (cycle) and Rhys Watson (run) represented Michaelhouse and won the inter-school’s category. This triathlon will take place in March again next year and we hope to enter many more teams in this exciting event. In terms of cross-country cycling (racing shorter laps), we participated in Trevi Track Attack, a fun event hosted by

THE ANNUAL EAST GRIQUALAND TROUT CLUB TRIP

The famous EG trip is a boys and fathers trip to Murray Cathcart’s farm where the fishing of top trophy dams always ends up produc ing the biggest fish of the season. The trip was founded in 1956 by Rhino Cathcart, Murray’s Grandfather, and the excursion has since been hosted by the Cathcart family for 67 years. The tradition’s reputation was upheld with nine fish over 60cm being caught; with the biggest of 67cm (approximately 10lb) being caught by the chairman Jack Walters. A total of 131 fish were caught averag ing around 5lb each. The trip was a huge success thanks to Murray and Bimpy Cathcart and their amazing hospitality. KZNFFA Competitional fly fishing is an opportunity offered to the boys by the KwaZulu-Natal Fly Fishing Association (KZNFFA). It is the best way to learn alternate techniques and better your fly fishing ability. It is also an opportunity to fish different waters and meet like-minded people. The following boys attended the KZN trials this year and made the following teams: Masters in Charge: Mr Nico Boshoff, Mr Sibonelo Khanyile Members: Gregor von Mayer, Jonathan Segar, Ian Graham, Sean Hough, Luca Kritzinger, Zach Fourie, Liam Tibshraeny, Rhys Watson, Benjamin Turner, Aage Erichsen, Alexander Bothner, Jack Jones, Matthew Carolan, Ashton McCormick, Tristan Butler, Ayden McDavid, Ramon van der Byl and Angus Fleming his year we continued with our regular social rides on Friday afternoons into the Sarsden Forest above Michaelhouse. The mountain bikers had in previous years built three sections of single track through the forest and added a partially completed fourth trail by year-end. Fortunately, we have passionate aspiring young trail builders in our midst who regularly maintain and upgrade these trails. The most exciting development of 2022 was the opportunity of running Mountain Biking as a school sport in the third quarter. This gave the boys the opportunity to participate in one of their favourite pass times on Monday and Wednesday afternoons as well as on Saturday mornings, when they would normally have been involved in more traditional school sports. This allowed them to regularly cycle at magnificent venues such as Karkloof. T

MOUNTAIN BIKING CLUB

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